Potential Form

In Turkey Turkish, to give a verb probability ( maybe, possible) or potential & ability meaning ( be able to, can) we add bilmek to our main verb. We add –a or –e between the verbs. That’s why, it is generally known as -ebilmek - abilmek.

1- To be able to / Can

Turkish	English
Bisiklete binebilirim.	I can ride a bike.
Bisiklete binebilir misin?	Can you ride a bike?
Türkçe konuşabilir.	He can speak Turkish.
5 yaşındayken yüzebiliyor muydun?	Were you be able to swim when you were 5?
Anlayabiliyor musun?	Can you understand?

2- Probability & Possibility

Turkish	English
Bugün yağmur yağabilir.	It may rain today.
Bugün yağmur yağmayabilir.	It may not rain today.
Tatilde Kazakistan’a gidebilirim.	I may go to Kazakhistan on vacation.
3. Dünya Savaşı çıkabilir.	3. World War may happen.
Ölebilirdik.	We would die.
Vurulabilirdin.	You might have shot.

3- Permission

Turkish	English
Akşam dışarı çıkabilir miyim?	May i go out tonight?
Kitabını ödünç alabilir miyim?	May i borrow your book?
Ben de gelebilir miyim?	May i come too?

4- Request

Turkish	English
Bana yardım edebilir misin?	Can you give me a hand?
Pencereyi açabilir misin?	Could you please open the window?
Buraya gelebilir misin?	Could you come here?

- Advanced Notes

If the sentence has probability & possibility meaning, we use –ebil / -abil and add -me/-ma suffix when we make the sentence negative.

Bugün yağmur yağabilir.	It may rain today.
Bugün yağmur yağmayabilir.	It may not rain today.

If the sentence has ability meaning, we don’t use –ebil/ -abil when we make the sentence negative. –e/–a stays after that we add –me/-ma suffix to make the verb negative.

Bisiklete binebilirim.	I can ride a bike.
Bisiklete binemem.	I can’t ride a bike.

O Türkçe konuşabilir.	He can speak Turkish.
O Türkçe konuşamaz.	I can’t ride a bike.

5 yaşındayken yüzebiliyor muydun?	Were you be able to swim when you were 5?
5 yaşındayken yüzemiyor muydun?	Weren’t you be able to swim when you were 5?

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